As Lopez stepped out of the cab and back into her familiar, ordinary world, she felt a strange sense of dissociation. Everything that had happened in the last thirty minutes felt like a dream.

Samantha spotted her approaching and called out, "Lopez!" She came forward, swinging a plastic bag.

"You must be in a good mood," Lopez remarked, attempting a smile.

"I deserve to be happy even once in a decade," Samantha teased, nudging her playfully.

"I'll be moving out tomorrow," Lopez blurted out, unable to hold back the news any longer.

Samantha's smile faltered.

"We will, or you will?"

"I will," Lopez confirmed, bracing herself for the questions that...